Namibia bids to join African ethanol producing-nations with sugarcane project

In Namibia, international consultancy PGBI announced a 26 Mgy sugarcane ethanol project in the Caprivi Region, to commence production in 2014. The plant will be the centerpiece of a 10,000 hectare sugar cane plantation that would also produce sugar and also electricity from the sugar cane bagasse, and would draw water from the Zambezi River.

Ethanol production is on the rise in Africa. In Uganda, Liquifier Uganda announced this week that it will construct the first ethanol plant in Uganda, setting up operations in both east and western Uganda, by June 2008. The ethanol plant, which will has an undisclosed capacity, will utilize corn, sugar and cassava as feedstocks.

In Mozambique last week, more details emerged regarding the launch of the Central African Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEC) biofuel project. CAMEC will invest US$510 million, and in produce 32 Mgy of ethanol from 30,000 hectares of sugar cane. The venture is expected to create 7,000 jobs.

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